Wednesday, March 15, 2006

The End Of An Era

After more than thirty years of Canucks games on CKNW 980 radio, the Vancouver Canucks are making a move:

The Vancouver Canucks and CHUM Radio are pleased to announce that beginning next season Team 1040 will become the exclusive radio carrier of Canucks games. For the next six years TEAM 1040 will be known as the official radio station of the Vancouver Canucks and General Motors Place and will carry every Canucks game. In addition, CHUM Radio has committed to arranging for the radio broadcast of the games throughout British Columbia.

"Our fans will be well served by TEAM 1040’s all sports format which provides the means to bring our game day activities to our fans. We look forward to TEAM 1040 providing the very best experience in radio and continuing CKNW’s tradition of delivering a consistently high-calibre broadcast," said Vancouver Canucks Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Dave Nonis. "In addition to the game broadcasts, we have negotiated an increased Canuck presence on TEAM 1040 by licensing a weekly show that will run through each season of the agreement. CHUM Radio has also brought to the Canucks a major commitment to support the team’s community and charitable initiatives."

Neil Gallagher, Vice-President and General Manager of CHUM Radio Vancouver said, "TEAM 1040 is delighted to be partnering with the Canucks for their games on radio. The acquisition of the Canucks radio broadcast rights fits into our overall programming strategy of providing British Columbians with a total sports experience. The Canucks presence in British Columbia is pervasive, and we look forward to partnering with them not only on the sports side of their business, but also through supporting the great work of the Canucks for Kids Fund. Our sister stations CFUN-AM and CHQM-FM will be helping us with that."

With every game currently being shown on TV - either on CBC, TSN, Sportsnet and PPV - the move may not mean much of a difference to Canucks fans. It, however, signals the end of an era. Canucks hockey on CKNW has been a longtime tradition; Canucks games have only ever been broadcast on radio on CKNW.If there's some good news for those folks who rely on the radio feed for Canucks games, TEAM 1040 is also trying to pry play-by-play man John Shorthouse and color commentator Tom Larscheid when their respective contracts with CKNW expire.